I can alter electrical current with my mind...

[NullPointerException]

I have an older radio that has a weak signal to several radio stations, now if I move my body away from the radio nothing happens, but if I move my hand closer to the radio the signal clears up.... now I'm sure this qualifies me for the one million dollars but before I applied I wanted to see if you naughty skeptics had a better explanation for it!


*seriously this does happen, im just wondering why my hand and not my entire body causes the signal to clear up...*

[jj]

Originally posted by NullPointerException
I have an older radio that has a weak signal to several radio stations, now if I move my body away from the radio nothing happens, but if I move my hand closer to the radio the signal clears up.... now I'm sure this qualifies me for the one million dollars but before I applied I wanted to see if you naughty skeptics had a better explanation for it!


*seriously this does happen, im just wondering why my hand and not my entire body causes the signal to clear up...*

You change the antenna tuning and directivity.

Classic thing. Ever have a 'rabbit ears' TV antenna? I used to have all sorts of gizmos on one when I was a kid, to get different stations. I even had them on a little switchbox.

[Zero]

Originally posted by NullPointerException
I have an older radio that has a weak signal to several radio stations, now if I move my body away from the radio nothing happens, but if I move my hand closer to the radio the signal clears up.... now I'm sure this qualifies me for the one million dollars but before I applied I wanted to see if you naughty skeptics had a better explanation for it!


*seriously this does happen, im just wondering why my hand and not my entire body causes the signal to clear up...*

Ummm...I think I know this one...

Think about it as your body being an antenna, and the 'sphere of influece' extends around your body. If you step closer to your radio, your body is within the 'sphere of influence of the radio's antenna, which has no effect. If you extend your hand, however, you add your sphere to the sphere of the radios's antenna, creating a larger field.

[scribble]

Ever heard of a theremin?

Look it up... it's a fascinating device and you might learn a thing or two about what you're asking on.

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by NullPointerException
I have an older radio that has a weak signal to several radio stations, now if I move my body away from the radio nothing happens, but if I move my hand closer to the radio the signal clears up.... now I'm sure this qualifies me for the one million dollars but before I applied I wanted to see if you naughty skeptics had a better explanation for it!


*seriously this does happen, im just wondering why my hand and not my entire body causes the signal to clear up...* I think NullPointerException is having a joke here!

Come on, nice try, but this happens all the time. I have a radio which is a pain to tune because it sounds fine when I'm touching it (and I have to touch it to move the tuning dial, I'm not telekinetic), but as soon as I move my hand away the signal breaks up.

The human arm/body is a good aerial in this situation, which I'm sure NullPointerException is perfectly well aware of! :D

Rolfe.

[epepke]

Originally posted by NullPointerException
I have an older radio that has a weak signal to several radio stations, now if I move my body away from the radio nothing happens, but if I move my hand closer to the radio the signal clears up.... now I'm sure this qualifies me for the one million dollars but before I applied I wanted to see if you naughty skeptics had a better explanation for it!


*seriously this does happen, im just wondering why my hand and not my entire body causes the signal to clear up...*

"It's your hand, Buckaroo."

It's called body capacitance. Moving near the antenna changes the tuning of the antenna. The whole body changes things, too, but probably you just need a little, and having the whole body too close can block the signal.

Your radio has a tuned LC circuit inside it to resonate with the frequency of the signal. It works optimally if the antenna is also tuned to that frequency. However, commercial radios usually have an antenna that is designed to work over a range of frequencies. If it's an AM radio, the antenna is probably an internal ferrite core. If it's FM, there is probably either an external antenna or a wound internal one.

Good shortwave radios have "trimmer" capacitors on the antenna line which help tune the antenna. Your hand near the radio does basically the same thing.

[NullPointerException]

Ah so no million dollars for me? :( Yeah I had recently read a study about using the human electric field to convey information through specialized mechanics but I wasn't exactly sure why only your hand would act as a good aerial. The radio has no external antenna.

[WildCat]

I've tried using dead people to clear up my reception, but it just doesn't work.:(










I'm joking of course!

[_Q_]

Originally posted by epepke


"It's your hand, Buckaroo."
It hasn't been all that great a day for me. Thanks for a smile! :)